Today’s date, February 8, is the only date in the history of Eastern Goldfields mining on which a person has not died.

Miners’ Memorial Wall committee chairman and City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mayor John Bowler said the organisation’s researcher, Moya Sharp from Outback Family History, had come up with this amazing piece of information.

“Statistically, with almost 1500 names on the wall, there should be about four fatalities per day but obviously some days, sadly, have had more than their share,” Mr Bowler said.

Mr Bowler said February 8 was the only day on the calendar in which there had not been an accidental death in a mine in the region stretching from Wiluna in the north to Ravensthorpe in the south.

“As well as celebrating this welcome piece of information on Friday, another good piece of news is that the annual unveiling next month at the wall in the forecourt of the Museum of the Goldfields will see no names unveiled for 2018,” he said.

“It is our hope, and I’m sure that of the mining industry, that every year all we unveil is that year, with no names.”

Mr Bowler said the memorial wall was initially opposed by many mining industry leaders because they were concerned it would remind everyone of the dangers of mining.

But he said a glance at the wall showed it demonstrated just how safe mining had become, with less than a death a year for the past decade.

Mr Bowler said the overall trend had been down since more than 40 were killed annually in the early years of the 20th century.

The annual service will be at 9am on March 2, the Saturday of the Labour Day long weekend.

Mr Bowler said the long weekend had always been used because of the union movement’s strong links with the industry, and especially improved safety.

This year’s special guest will be former union official and now Kalgoorlie-Boulder based Labor State Upper House member Kyle McGinn.

Mr Bowler said the committee was always proud of the ceremony at the museum, with many families and loved ones making an annual pilgrimage for the occasion.

He urged local miners and industry leaders to attend to celebrate the fact another year had passed without a death.

Mr Bowler said the worst day was June 13, on which date 10 miners had lost their lives since 1892.